Blog

*Note: This page will be continuously updated as votes are taken and posted. To view the full text of a measure, click on the bill number. To view the vote totals, click on the date immediately beneath the bill title.

1. The following resolutions were adopted by the House in a block vote on 2/8/16. I voted Yes, and the measures passed 119-0.

HC 22	Sgt. Leroy Williams; commend and congratulate upon winning the Top Cop award. 02/08 (H) Adopted 02/08 (H) Immediate Release 02/08 (H) Transmitted To Senate		Monsour
HC 23	Mississippi Access to Justice Commission; recognize service. 02/08 (H) Adopted 02/08 (H) Immediate Release 02/08 (H) Transmitted To Senate		Baria
HC 24	Sumrall High School Bobcats Baseball Team; commend upon winning the 3A State Championship. 02/08 (H) Adopted 02/08 (H) Immediate Release 02/08 (H) Transmitted To Senate		Touchstone
HC 25	Dr. John J. Zielinski; commend distinguished career upon the occasion of his retirement. 02/08 (H) Adopted 02/08 (H) Immediate Release 02/08 (H) Transmitted To Senate		Williams-Barnes

 

2. The following resolutions were adopted by the House in a block vote on 2/10/16. I voted Yes, and the measures passed 121-0.

HC 26	Judith Alaina Puckett; commend the life and legacy of. 02/10 (H) Adopted 02/10 (H) Immediate Release 02/10 (H) Transmitted To Senate		Bounds
HC 27	Justice David Chandler; commend upon retirement from Mississippi Supreme Court after distinguished career. 02/10 (H) Adopted 02/10 (H) Immediate Release 02/10 (H) Transmitted To Senate		Hood
HC 28	Robbie Maxwell; commend on life and legacy. 02/10 (H) Adopted 02/10 (H) Immediate Release 02/10 (H) Transmitted To Senate		Busby
HC 29	Resurrection Catholic School Eagles Football Team; commend and congratulate upon winning Class 1A South State Championship. 02/10 (H) Adopted 02/10 (H) Immediate Release 02/10 (H) Transmitted To Senate		Busby
HC 30	Colonel Ada M. Collier; commend and congratulate upon promotion to colonel. 02/10 (H) Adopted 02/10 (H) Immediate Release 02/10 (H) Transmitted To Senate		Busby

 

3. On 2/10/16, the House considered HB93, which was reported out of the Insurance committee. This bill clarified the existing statute concerning insurance benefits by eliminating a provision of state law which appeared to allow insurance companies to revoke benefits once assigned. I voted Yes, the measure passed 62-58. After the vote though, several members expressed concern with the bill, so it was held over on a motion to reconsider. The House will have to pass the bill again in order for it to proceed to the Senate.

HB 93

Health insurance; revise assignment of benefits provisions regarding. 02/10 (H) Amendment Failed 02/10 (H) Passed 02/10 (H) Motion to Reconsider Entered (Lamar, Chism, Touchstone)

Formby

 

4. On 2/10/16, the House considered HB 112, which clarified the Worker’s Compensation statute to ensure that members of Mississippi’s Responder Management System are conferred the same benefits as other state employees if they are activated. I voted Yes, the bill passed 122-0.

HB 112

MS Responder Management System; registrants receive workers’ compensation benefits for death or injury responding to emergency. 02/10 (H) Committee Substitute Adopted 02/10 (H) Passed

Mims

 

5. On 2/10/16, the House considered HB 523 which ensures that insurers who participate in the workers comp program provide notice of the minimum premium required by that insurer. It would also require that administrative procedures be exhausted before any civil litigation is filed concerning the policy. I voted Yes, the measure passed 92-27.

HB 523

Workers’ Compensation Assigned Risk Plan; revise laws regarding. 02/10 (H) Committee Substitute Adopted 02/10 (H) Passed

Chism

 

6. On 2/10/16, the House considered HB 111, which would grant the commissioner of the Mississippi Comprehensive Insurance Risk Pool authority to close enrollment as the enrollment dwindles and the program is no longer needed. I voted Yes. The bill passed 110-7.

HB 111

Comprehensive Health Insurance Risk Pool; revise eligibility for coverage/clarify when association may close enrollment. 02/10 (H) Passed 02/10 (H) Motion to Reconsider Entered (Banks, Chism, Touchstone)

Chism

7. On 2/11/ 16, the House adopted the following resolutions in a packaged vote. I voted Yes, the measures passed 121-0.

HC 42	Gladys Hughes; commend and congratulate on many accomplishments. 02/11 (H) Adopted 02/11 (H) Immediate Release 02/11 (H) Transmitted To Senate		Formby
HC 43	Wayne County High School War Eagles Football Team; commend upon winning MHSAA Class 5A Championship. 02/11 (H) Adopted 02/11 (H) Immediate Release 02/11 (H) Transmitted To Senate		Barnett

8. On 2/11/16, the House adopted the follwoing resolutions in a packaged vote. I voted Yes, the measures passed 120-0.

SC 552	Commend Northwest Mississippi Community College “Rangers” Football Team for 2015 NJCAA National Championship. 02/11 (H) Adopted 02/11 (H) Immediate Release 02/11 (H) Returned For Enrolling		Stone
SC 553	Recognize 2016 American Red Cross Humanitarian Award Recipient Ted Moll of Tupelo, Mississippi. 02/11 (H) Adopted 02/11 (H) Immediate Release 02/11 (H) Returned For Enrolling		McMahan
SC 554	Recognize 50th Anniversary Celebration of North Mississippi Rural Legal Services (NMRLS) and commend mission. 02/11 (H) Adopted 02/11 (H) Immediate Release 02/11 (H) Returned For Enrolling		Jackson (11th)
SC 556	Commend Hannah Roberts for being named the First Runner-Up in the Miss America Pageant. 02/11 (H) Adopted 02/11 (H) Immediate Release 02/11 (H) Returned For Enrolling		Fillingane
SC 558	Mourn the loss of former 6th District Chancellor Edward Prisock of Louisville, Mississippi. 02/11 (H) Adopted 02/11 (H) Immediate Release 02/11 (H) Returned For Enrolling		Branning
SC 559	Mourn the passing of Dr. Arthur Bennett Peyton, Sr., respected Greenville educator and civic leader. 02/11 (H) Adopted 02/11 (H) Immediate Release 02/11 (H) Returned For Enrolling		Simmons (12th)
SC 560	Commend DeSoto Central “Lady Jags” for winning State Volleyball Championship. 02/11 (H) Adopted 02/11 (H) Immediate Release 02/11 (H) Returned For Enrolling		Massey

9. As a member of the Public Property Committee, I was assigned to present HB 25 on the House Floor on 2/11/16. This is a fairly straightforward bill which revises a section of the Mississippi Code to update the state buildings that are under the control of the Department of Finance and Administration. This was my first time speaking before the House, and in the tradition for new members, I was subjected to a number of questions from my colleagues. I was proud to be officially “initiated” into the House of Representatives.  The bill passed 122-0.

HB 25

DFA; clarify and update inventory of state real properties under the authority, general supervision and oversight of. 02/11 (H) Committee Substitute Adopted 02/11 (H) Amended 02/11 (H) Passed As Amended

Weathersby

 

10.  On 2/11/16, the House considered H.B. 2, which adds two additional members to the Education Achievement Council to represent institutions which are currently not represented there.  I voted Yes, the bill passed 120-1.

HB 2

Education Achievement Council; revise composition by adding two additional members. 02/11 (H) Committee Substitute Adopted 02/11 (H) Passed

Mettetal

 

11. On 2/11/16, the House considered H.B. 26, a bill which authorizes the Department of Finance and Administration to renew the lease for the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. DFA leases this building to a nonprofit organization which . I voted Yes, and the measure passed 120-0.

HB 26

MS Sports Hall of Fame & Dizzy Dean Museum; authorize DFA to extend lease of for a term not to exceed 20 years. 02/11 (H) Passed

Weathersby

 

12. On 2/11/16, the House considered HB 114 which renames the DPS building to honor the late Tim Ford. I voted Yes, the measure passed 122-0.

HB 114

State buildings; rename the MS Department of Public Safety building in Jackson, MS, the “Timothy Alan (Tim) Ford Building.” 02/11 (H) Committee Substitute Adopted 02/11 (H) Passed

Gunn

 

13. On 2/11/16, the House considered HB 283 which provides the Commissioner of Corrections more latitude to reorganize his Department. I voted Yes, the measure passed 113-5.

HB 283

Department of Corrections; amend FY16 appropriation to delete language about expenditure of funds for Personal Services. 02/11 (H) Passed 02/11 (H) Motion to Reconsider Entered (Hines, Frierson, Huddleston (15th))

Frierson

 

14. On 2/11/16, the House considered HB 391, which authorizes the Department of Revenue to compromise and settle tax payments owed by residents. I voted Yes and the measure passed 121-0.

HB 391

Department of Revenue; authorize to compromise and settle tax liabilities with taxpayers. 02/11 (H) Passed

Smith

 

15. On 2/11/16, the House considered HB 425, which allows Tax Collectors to conduct online sales of properties. I voted Yes, and the measure passed 116-3.

HB 425

Sale of land for taxes; authorize tax collector to conduct sales by online auction. 02/11 (H) Committee Substitute Adopted 02/11 (H) Passed

Smith

 

16. On 2/11/16, the House considered HB 446, which extends tax credits for employers who sponsor skill training. I support reducing the state income tax for all Mississippians, and these credits are a step in reducing the overall tax burden. I voted Yes, the bill passed 121-0.

HB 446

Income tax; extend date of repeal on tax credit for certain employers sponsoring skills training for employees. 02/11 (H) Passed

Smith

 

17. On 2/11/16, the House considered HB 461, which aligns the state income tax filing date with the federal deadline. This simplifies things for state taxpayers. I voted Yes, the bill passed 122-0.

HB 461

Income tax; provide that filing date for state return is the same as filing date for corresponding federal return. 02/11 (H) Passed

Smith

 

18. On 2/11/16, the House considered HB 496 which extends income tax credits for certain jobs. I support reducing the state income tax for all Mississippians, and these credits are a step in reducing the overall tax burden. I voted Yes, the bill passed 120-1.

HB 496

Income tax; extend repeal date on tax credit for new cut and sew jobs in upholstered furniture manufacturing industry. 02/11 (H) Passed

White